Weed burning device



March 9, 1965 w. c. JACKSON 3,172,459

WEED BURNING DEVICE Filed March 11, 1963 Fig. 7

WILTON C. JACKSON INVENTOR. 5)

BUC/(HOR/V, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,172,459 7 WEED BURNING DEVICE Wilton C. Jackson, Nyssa, Greg. 7 Filed Mar. 11', 1963, Ser. No. 264,260 Z'Uaims. (Ci. 158--79) The present invention relatesto a-combustion device and more particularly toa device for burning weeds.

Since weeds can materially reduce thei-yieldof a food or forage crop itis desirable that their presence be minimized or eliminated; In some instances, such as in a sugar beet field it is the practice to destroyweeds growing betweenthe: rows of the crop plants by burning the weedswith a flame thrower-type device. Weeds along fence rows and in fallow fields may bedestroyed in like manner. For such purposesit is desirable that the flame be-as hot as possible so that the burning may be accomplished in a minimum amount of time; Burning of weeds along a fence row ordinarily. is done when the Weeds and surrounding vegetation are green so that the hazard of starting awild, uncontrolled fire is reduced. Obviously to burn and destroy: av green Weed quickly a hot, intense flame is desirable.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a weedburning device capable ofproviding a hot and intense flame.

Another object is to provide a weed burning device that is simple in-constructionenabling-inexpensive manufacture and presenting a minimum-of operational and maintenance problems.

Other objects and advantages will be described hereinafter.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiments, the present invention comprises a nozzle for ejectinga planar, fan shaped stream of fuel through a tubular, funnel shaped stream of-fuel-through atubular, funnel shaped flame guard spaced from the nozzle; The fuelstream is ejected across the surface of a baflie having a portion adjacent to the nozzle parallel to the fuel stream and a further portion extending angularly away from the fuel stream. The presence of the plate and its configuration enables a substantial increase in the rate at which fuel can be burned in a device of the character described thus enabling creation of a hotter, more intense flame.

For a more complete understanding of the invention reference is made to the following detailed description thereof in conjunction with the attached drawings Where- FIG. 1 is a perspective View showing a device made in accordance with the invention and its manner of use;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, front elevation of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of the device of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a bottom elevation thereof.

FIG. 1 illustrates the use of a burner unit or device it) of the invention in a hand type device wherein the unit 10 is secured to the end of a relatively long tubular handle 11 having control valve 12 thereon to permit control of the feed of fuel to the unit from a suitable source (not shown) such as a pressure tank carried by the user.

The burner device 10 includes a nozzle means comprising a collar 14, which is threaded to receive the threaded end of the handle 11, and a plug 16 threaded into the end of the collar 14 opposite the handle 11. The plug 16 is provided with three orifices 18, 2t), 22 aligned in a row, the center orifice being adapted to emit a jet of gas coaxially of the nozzle and the outer orifices being adapted to emit diverging jets of gas so that together the three jets emit a fuel in a fan shaped, substantially planar stream indicated in dotted lines at 24.

Positioned forwardly of the nozzle is a tubular shield 30 of generally oval or elliptical cross section and including a pair of fiat side walls-32' which may be substantially parallel but'which preferably diverge slightly, as best shown in FIG. 3, from the nozzle to the far end thereof. The side walls 32 are integral with opposite U-shaped endwalls 34 which diverge from each other so that the shield- 30is provided with a relatively wide mouth for the emission of the diverging stream of ignited gas. As best seen'in FIG. 4 the shield 30 is positioned so that the longer transverse axial plane thereof is substantially coincident with the plane of the stream of gas omitted from the orifices 18, 211*, 22.

At the entrance end of the shield the walls 32 preferably are spaced apart a distance about equal to four times'the distance between the orifices 18,- 22whilethe length of the entrance, that is, the distance between the end walls 34 is preferably about three times the spacing between the walls 32. This provides an entrance of adequate cross section to admit airfor mixing with the gaseous fuel. The shield-30 is preferably. spaced forwardly of the nozzlea distance equal to about two. or three times the distance between the orifices 18, 22.

Supporting the shield 30 from the nozzle is a-baffle 40 comprising a first planar portion 42 secured by brazing or other suitable means to] the collar 14. The portion 42 extends forwardly of the nozzle a distance aboutequal to one half the spacing between the nozzle and the shield in substantially parallel relation to the plane of the gas stream emitted" from the orifices 18', 20, 22; Thebaflie 40 includes a further planar'portion 44 extending angularly from the portion 42'to the near edge of a side wall 32 of the shield 30=andto whichthe portion44'is'secured as by brazing. The edges of the bafiie 40 may diverge at substantially the same angle as the jets from the orifices 18, 22 as best shown in FIG. 2. Further support means in the form of a wire or rod 46 secured to the collar 14 and opposite shield side wall may be provided. The space between the nozzle and shield is otherwise unobstructed thus permitting free flow of air to the shield.

As will be apparent the jets of gas issuing from the orifices 18, 20, 22 will entrain air which will mix with the gas in the shield 30 to form a combustible mixture that when ignited will be emitted from the lower end of the shield as a hot flame. The baffle 40 has the surprising effect of permitting fuel to be burned efficiently at about twice the rate heretofore permissible in comparable devices thus enabling the creation of a hotter and more efiicient flame. It is not definitely known at this time why this should occur but it appears that the positioning of the portion 42 closely adjacent to the gas jets issuing from the orifices forms a partial Venturi causing air to flow across the surface of the portion 42 at a relatively high velocity and in substantial volume. The break in the baflie, caused by the angular position of the portion 44, it is theorized, creates a turbulence causing more eflicient mixing of the air and fuel thus permitting use of more fuel than could otherwise be efficiently burned. Whatever the reason, the baffle constructed as shown has substantially increased the amount of fuel that can be burned as compared to previous devices, as for example, devices wherein the shield 40 was supported from the nozzle solely by wire or rod-like brackets similar to the support rod 46.

The bafiie arrangement of the invention is also useful with liquid fuel burners such as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. In such a burner liquid fuel, such as liquified propane, is introduced into an inlet pipe 50 to which is con- 'tion in arrangement and detail.

(It nected a vaporizing coil 52 spirally wound to define a substantially flat sided shield 54 similar in configuration to the shield 30 described above. vaporization of the liquid propane occurs in the coil shield 54 and the now gaseous propane is led from the coil shield to a nozzle 56 having three orifices 58, 60, 62 arranged to emit a fan shaped stream of gas through the center of the shield 54. The heat of the burning gas will, of course, facilitate the vaporization of the liquid fuel being fed to the coil.

cooperatively arranged with the nozzle 56 is a batlie 64 substantially identical in construction and arrangement to the bafiie 40. The presence of the baflle 64 permits a substantial increase in the rate of feed of fuel to the burner so that a more efficient burner results.

Having illustrated and :described preferred embodiments of the invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention permits of modifica- I claim all such modifications as come Within the scope and purview of the appended claims.

I claim: a

1. In a weed burner,

conduit means for conducting a combustible fluid fuel from a source of the same under pressure,

nozzle means in the end of said conduit means defining orifices adapted to'permit escape of said fuel in a fan shaped, substantially planar stream,

a tubular shield of elliptical cross, section mounted forwardly of said nozzle means with the longer transverse axial plane of said shield co-incident with the plane of said stream, 1

said shield comprising a pair of substantially parallel side walls connected by diverging end walls,

and means supporting said shield from said nozzle means including a baffie comprising a first planar said baffle including a second planarportion extending angularly from said first planar portion to the near edge of one of the said side walls and being connected to such edge.

2. In a weed burner,

conduit means for conducting a combustible fluid fuel from a source of the same under pressure,

nozzle means in the end of said conduit means defining three laterally spaced orifices extending in a row and adapted to permit escape of said fuel in a fan shaped, substantially planar stream,

a tubular shield of elliptical cross section mounted forwardly of said nozzle means a distance equal to about twice the distance between the two outermost of said orifices with the .longer transverse axial plane of said shield coincident with the plane of said stream,

said shield comprising a pair of flat, substantially parallel side Walls connected by diverging end .walls of U-shaped. cross section.

said side walls being spaced apart a distance substantially equal to three times the distance between said two outermost orifices,

and means supporting said shield frorntsaid nozzle means including a battle comprising a first planar portion extending forwardly of said nozzle means about one half the distance between said nozzle means and said shield and in parallel relation to said stream plane but offset therefrom a distance about equal tothe spacing between said two outermost orifices,

said baflie including a second planar portionextending angularly from said first planar portion to the near edge of one of the said side walls and being connected to such edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Heberlein Sept. 9, 1958 

1. IN A WEED BURNER, CONDUIT MEANS FOR CONDUCTING A COMBUSTIBLE FLUID FUEL FROM A SOURCE OF THE SAME UNDER PRESSURE, NOZZLE MEANS IN THE END OF SAID CONDUIT MEANS DEFINING ORIFICES ADAPTED TO PERMIT ESCAPE OF SAID FUEL IN A FAN SHAPED, SUBSTANTIALLY PLANAR STREAM, A TUBULAR SHIELD OF ELLIPTICAL CROSS SECTION MOUNTED FORWARDLY OF SAID NOZZLE MEANS WITH THE LONGER TRANSVERSE AXIAL PLANE OF SAID SHIELD CO-INCIDENT WITH THE PLANE OF SAID STREAM, SAID SHIELD COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE WALLS CONNECTED BY DIVERGING END WALLS, AND MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SHIELD FROM SAID NOZZLE MEANS INCLUDING A BAFFLE COMPRISING A FIRST PLANAR PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY OF SAID NOZZLE MEANS ABOUT ONE HALF THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID NOZZLE MEANS AND SAID SHIELD IN PARALLEL RELATION TO SAID STREAM PLANE BUT OFFSET THEREFROM, SAID BAFFLE INCLUDING A SECOND PLANAR PORTION EXTENDING ANGULARLY FROM SAID FIRST PLANAR PORTION TO THE NEAR EDGE OF ONE OF THE SAID SIDE WALLS AND BEING CONNECTED TO SUCH EDGE. 